Olympics festival includes Laurie Anderson, Joni Mitchell ballet

The arts and cultural festival meant to complement the competitive sports competition in next year’s Winter Olympics has unveiled its first group of top Canadian and international performers, groups and artists.

The electic cross-section is meant to appeal to a broad audience. It includes a play inspired by the writing of Edgar Allan Poe, the world premiere of new dances by Marie Chouinard and Crystal Pite, a return performance of the Kronos Quartet and Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq, dancing by Alberta Ballet to Joni Mitchell songs, and NiX, a love story set in a theatre of ice that includes a flaming tuba.

"With the incredible wealth of talent and outstanding value these shows have to offer, we expect them to sell out and encourage people to go online now and get their tickets," David Guscott, executive vice-president, celebrations and partnerships for Vanoc, said in a statement. "This is just the first instalment of the hundreds of artists who will participate next year as part of the Cultural Olympiad 2010 lineup.

“In the coming months, we'll add even more projects to our program with the support of the Government of Canada and the home provinces and territories of the performers."

The third and final Cultural Olympiad festival starts next Jan. 22 and runs through the Olympic and Paralympic Games until concluding on March 21.

By the time it’s finished, Metro Vancouverites and visitors will have a chance to see more than more than 600 ticketed and free performances and exhibitions in 50 venues in the region and the Sea to Sky corridor.

The 20 projects announced Tuesday include works by Robert Lepage, Alberta Ballet, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. The third and final edition of the Cultural Olympiad festivals will start next Jan. 22 and run throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games concluding on March 21. The extensive program will include more than 600 ticketed and free performances and exhibitions in 50 venues in Metro Vancouver and B.C.’s Sea to Sky corridor.

Seven of the 20 projects have been commissioned by Vanoc or co-commissioned with Arts Partners in Creative Development.

Quebec's Robert Lepage continues his internationally celebrated imaginative and innovative stagecraft with this sequel to his acclaimed series The Dragons' Trilogy, set in modern China. Co-commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

• Moon Water — Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan

Lauded worldwide for its innovation and grace, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan's Moon Water is a contemporary exploration of Tai Chi Tao Yin movement, an ancient Chi Kung exercise, set to Bach's Six Suites for Solo Cello. It will be the troupe's first performance in Vancouver since 1997.

• NiX

Canada's first theatre of ice and snow comes to Lost Lake in Whistler. NiX follows an arsonist through the fireworks at the end of the world. It features a flaming tuba, snowman death scene and an explosive love story. Commissioned by Arts Partners in Creative Development.

• Nunavut — Kronos Quartet featuring Tanya Tagaq

Performed by Grammy Award-winning Kronos Quartet and featuring Inuit vocalist Tanya Tagaq, the centrepiece of Nunavut is Tundra Songs — a new work by Canadian composer Derek Charke that paints a mesmerizing Arctic soundscape.

• Michael Lin: A Modest Veil

Taipei-based artist Michael Lin will create a massive mural covering the Vancouver Art Gallery's northern facade using the patterns and exuberant colours found in traditional Taiwanese fabric designs and decorative art. It will mark the first presentation of his work in Canada.

• Where the Blood Mixes — Playhouse Theatre Company

Emerging Canadian playwright Kevin Loring goes beneath the surface of the aboriginal residential school system and celebrates its survivors. Co-commissioned by Arts Partners in Creative Development.

• Joni Mitchell's The Fiddle and The Drum — Alberta Ballet

This extended, full-length collaboration production of the dazzling ballet features four additional Joni Mitchell songs, illuminated by her latest artwork and the choreography of Alberta Ballet's artistic director Jean Grand Maître. Commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Tickets on sale soon.

• Laurie Anderson: Two Sided Plays

Renowned multimedia artist Laurie Anderson will premiere her newest work, a compelling series of 10 two-character plays in which Anderson plays both roles defined through the use of audio and visual effects and set design. Co-commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

• Nevermore — Catalyst Theatre

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, the great master of the macabre, this whimsical, chilling musical fairy tale by Edmonton's Catalyst Theatre reveals the psychology of a man whose haunting writings continue to resonate.

• Compagnie Marie Chouinard: World Premiere

This newly-commissioned group piece by Canada's reigning queen of contemporary dance is based on the notion of time recaptured. For the first time, Marie Chouinard will create an accompanying vocal score. Co-commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

• Nixon in China — Vancouver Opera

Vancouver Opera presents the Canadian premiere — and a new production — of John Adams's modern masterpiece about U.S. President Richard Nixon's historic 1972 visit to China. Canadian coloratura soprano Tracey Dahl, as Madame Mao, joins opera greats Robert Orth as Nixon and Alan Woodrow as Mao Tse-tung under the musical leadership of Maestro John DeMain who led the 1987 premiere of the opera.

• Rain — Cirque Éloize

Montreal's Cirque Éloize brings the wonder of childhood to vivid life in this circus arts performance. The company expresses its innovative nature by combining circus arts with music, dance and theatre.

Maestro Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will give a rare live performance of Mahler's monumental masterpiece, featuring hundreds of musicians, eight vocal soloists and three choirs, including soprano Measha Brueggergosman, the Vancouver Bach Choir and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.

• Beyond Eden — Theatre Calgary

Written by Bruce Ruddell and starring John Mann, this spellbinding new rock musical was inspired by Wilson Duff and Bill Reid's 1957 groundbreaking and controversial expedition to Haida Gwaii. Beyond Eden will have its world premiere during Cultural Olympiad 2010.

• Elephant Wake — Globe Theatre

Globe Theatre's production digs deep into the pain and anger of a man trying to come to terms with his own marginalized existence and the struggle to keep his culture, family and town relevant in Saskatchewan. Tickets on sale June 15.

• Fear of Flight — Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland

This music and movement spectacle tracks 14 nervous passengers on a bumpy transcontinental flight. The production by Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland combines monologues, choral text and movement — all performed by an ensemble of singing travellers. Tickets on sale June 15.

• Tear the Curtain! — Electric Company Theatre

Murder, mayhem and movies take centre stage in this stylish new thriller from Vancouver's innovative Electric Company Theatre. Inspired by the true history of the Stanley Theatre, which opened as a movie house in 1930, this multimedia spectacle offers a new twist to the classic whodunit.

• Kidd Pivot: Dark Matters

Created by Kidd Pivot artistic director Crystal Pite, this new work brings together six dancers for an exploration of human significance in the wake of catastrophe and planetary frailty. Co-commissioned by Arts Partners in Creative Development.

• Juste pour Rire 2010

Three evenings of fun and laughter with la crème de la crème of Canada's francophone comedians, the hottest emerging and internationally acclaimed artists on the scene today. Co-presented by Le Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver and the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Tickets on sale Sept. 1.

• Martha Wainwright and Jorane: Chanteuses modernes

Powerfully raw singer/songwriter Martha Wainwright and award-winning singer/cellist Jorane, known for her unique "cello rock," weave their musical spell in an evening of songs. Tickets on sale June 12.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.